Monday, December 10, 2012

Like any avid paper crafter would, I jumped at the chance to review the new Circle Edge Punch Starter Kit from Martha Stewart Crafts, which is currently only available on HSN. I was really excited by the prospect of being able to make elaborately punched shapes but a little skeptical that it would be an easy thing to do.

I thought lining things up just right to make a complete circle could potentially be time consuming, a crafty nightmare. I also doubted the magnets built into the circle edge punch base would really work. I decided to document my very first time using this paper crafting tool to see if it's really something easy to use, because let's face it. If it's not easy to use, it won't be! I was amazed by how perfectly the Circle Edge Punch worked from the very start.

Included in the Starter Kit is an Eyelet Doily Punch Cartridge with Metal Plate, it also comes with a plastic cover to protect the Punch Cartridge when not in use. Note the four magnets in each of the four cornters of the Punch Cartridge, those will be important later. This cartridge's design is very versatile, one I can imagine using for many purposes from scrapbook pages, cards, home decor, and more.

To use the Circle Edge Punch Base, you need to first load the Metal Base. Pull the release tab back, as shown in middle picture above, place the metal base into the slot. Make sure the smooth side of the metal base is face up. Did you notice the four magnets around the corners of the the Metal Base? That's where the Punch Cartridge will eventually be placed. As I mentioned before, it also has magnets on it and both sets will work together to hold the paepr in place while you punch.

On the other side of the Circle Edge Punch Base is the rotating knob, this is what helps you make a perfect circle, but for now you need to twist and lift it off the base.

Place a piece of paper over the base, centering it over where the Rotating Knob is as best you can. Replace the Rotating Knob, hover it over the paper very close to where you think the magnets on the base are and the sets of magnets will snap together. Also place the Eyelet Doily Punch Cartridge over where the Metal Plate is, the two sets of magnets on the Cartridge and Sliding Tray will also be attracted to each other and snap together.

This part is what really surprised me. It was really, really easy to get the pieces into place. Those sure are very strong magnets. You don't really have to work to get them to lined up; the bond is quite strong. You definitely know when they two sets have connected.

To give you an idea of how things connect, here is how things should look if everything is snapped into place correctly, without the paper in place. The circle I will be punching is 11 inches. I've set the measurment switch along the curved front of the base to ten and the Sliding Tray is has also been positioned so that it lines up with the 11 mark along the top and bottom sides of the Base. It's important for these to marked at the same measurement.

Now that we've got everything in place, it's time for the fun part. Let's punch! Depress the Doily Punch Cartridge down, making your first punch. I found it easiest to do this while standing. Then remove the Punch Cartridge and turn the Rotating Knob. It will click into place. Replace the Punch Cartridge and punch again. Repeat punching and turning the knob until you've completed a circle.

Did you notice that once you've finished punching you don't have to cut the circle out? Nice time saver, having no little bits of connecting pieces you have to cut before your design is ready. It really is easy to create a continuous, die-cut border in 7 different sizes, up to 12 inches in size. Pretty cool!

Doesn't it look fantastic? I have to admit I was more than a bit surprised by how well the Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch Starter Kit worked. There was no need to line up holes in the punched design to continue punching. It was much easier and faster than I anticipated. By the time I'd done two or three punches, I'd gotten into a groove on how work the set.

It's nice to be able to use it right out of the box, without needing to practice with it a lot first, to add special touches to many different projects. Here is one of the first projects I incorporated it into. This card was simple to put together with pieces of an older Martha Stewart Crafts paper pad called School Days.

Then I thought using the Circle Edge Punch would a nice way to add an elegant touch to your holiday table. Here's a menu wrap I made for Thanksgiving, although it would be easy to adapt this concept for any time of the year. I used paper that's also from the School Days pad to make them.

Just punch, fold, and tie a ribbon for this easy look that elevates your meal into something special. No one has to know how easy was to do it!

Coupon Code:

Martha Stewart Crafts also makes many other well designed tools, supplies, and other craft products. I'm excited to share with you a coupon code so you can try them out and save. You won't be disappointed, I have several Martha Stewart Crafts products and would recommend them all. Check them all out at www.marthastewartcrafts.com. Save 20% on your purchase with the code BLOG20. There's lots of crafty goodness there, that I know the creative person in your life would love to find wrapped up underneath the tree this year.

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I love to do family friendly reviews and giveaways for products that make life better from the kitchen to the playroom and beyond. As a former teacher, I also enjoy reviewing learning materials. Click above or katiesnestingspot(at)live(dot)com

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